Birdhouse



July 29; 1947. M. K. BENsbN BIRD HOUSE Filed Aug. 29, 1945 INVENTOR.Met/e /f. 520600 By M I I [:V I

ATTORMEYJ.

Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,BIRDHOUSE Merle K.Benson, Benton Harbor-,lVlich.

Application August 29, 1945,,Serial No. 613,346

10 Claims. I

This invention relates to improvements in bird houses.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a birdhouse formed of an integral blank of fibrousmaterial which may be shipped and stored in the knock-down and readilyset up by the customer.

Second, to provide such a structure which is strong and rigid andsubstantially weatherproof.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which may be veryeconomically produced and at the same time is attractive in appearance.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A birdhouse whichembodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a birdhouse embodying the featuresof my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a planview of the blank.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective viewillustratin certain steps inerecting and further illustrating the relation of parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a desirable form of hangerattaching means.

It is desired to point out that while Various forms of fibrous sheetmaterial or fiberboard may be used, asbestos impregnated roofing felt ormaterial is -a desirable material in that it is water or weatherproof,is economical and possesses desired rigidity and stiffness so that theparts are self-sustaining without the use of staples or. fas-' tenersalthough it will be understood that staples or fasteners may be used ifdesired.

In Fig. 3 I illustrate the blank for the structure shown in the otherfigures, this blank being shaped and scored to provide the parts orelements and for convenience in folding.

The structure comprises a bottom I having opposed side walls 2 hingedlyconnected thereto at 3 and walls 4 hingedly connected to the bottom at5. The side and end walls are downwardly tapered and their adjacentedges are connected by corner fiaps B hingedly connected to the endwalls at l and'to the side walls at 8. These corner flaps not onlyprovide corner closures but they add materially to the rigidity of thestructure. In the embodiment illustrated opposed walls diverge upwardlyinrelation to each other. The corner flaps are folded inwardly againstthe inner sides of the side walls which position the end walls in spacedrelation to the end edges of the side Walls. Theupper ends of the sidewalls are upwardly tapered and are provided with roof anchoring'flaps 9hingedly connectedtothe edges of the end walls at Ill. These anchoringflaps are turned outwardly.

A roof member extends from the upper edge of one of the side Walls,being hingedly Joined thereto at l I. This roof member is longitudinallyscored at l2 to provide roof panels 13 and .IA, these roof panels beingtransversely scored at 1.5 to provide end flaps'l6. The endflaps lfiareturned inwardly into engagement with the roof anchorin flaps 9 of theend walls. Theother side member has an inner roof memberor joint memberll joined to itat 3; .this innerroof member is folded inwardly upon theend walls and lies under theadjacent outer roofpanelserving to close thejoint at the upper edge of the side wall and also constituting ananchoring means for the side wall to which it is connected. In theembodiment illustrated this panel I1 is of the same width as the roofpanel l4 butit may.,be narrower if desired to economize on material. .Itshould beof such Width however as to serve as an anchoring means for thesidewall and to provide an effective joint closure. When formed ofmaterial which maintainsits shape when bent, such as asphaltimpregnatedfelt or fibrous material, fastening means are not required.Staples or paper fasteners may be employed with'satisfactory resultswith other materials.

One. end wall is provided with an opening 28 which it will be understoodwould be varied in size for different birds.

In the embodiment illustrated I provide a perch l9 which extendstransversely-below the cornice at the end having the opening. The perchis formed of bendable material, its ends 29 being reversely bent andtucked between the roof panels and the inturned flap IS. The structuremay be supported by nailing the bottom to a suitable support or a hangerloop 2| may be inserted through the roofat the ridge thereof. The loopmay be of bendable material having its endsp22 bent laterally under theroof. A reinforcing piece 23 is preferably provided.

Ihave illustrated and described a structure which is highly practical.The structure majs be made of comparatively light sheet material and atthe same time when erected is strong and rigid and has no open joints..The structure may be shipped and stored in the knockdown and later setup by the inerchandiser or the customer. It

can be readily knocked down for cleaning or storage after it has been inuse. I have not attemped to illustrate various adaptations andmodifications in design which are possible with embodiments of myinvention as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled inthe art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank of water-resisting fibrousmaterial scored to provide a bottom, downwardly tapered side and endwalls hingedly connected to the bottom, the opposed walls beingdispose-d in upwardly diverging relation to each other, adjacent endedges of the side and end walls being connected by corner flaps foldedagainst the inner sides of the side walls with end walls disposedbetween the side walls and in spaced relation to the ends thereof, thetop edges of the end walls being upwardly tapered and having out-turnedroof anchoring flaps extending therefrom, an outer roof member extendingfrom the upper edge of one side wall and longitudinally scored toprovide a pair of roof panels folded upon the top edges of the end wallsand projecting substantially beyond the same to provide a cornice andhaving end flaps folded in- Wardly under the said roof anchoring flapson said end walls, the other side wall having an inner roof panelprojecting from its upper edge disposed below the adjacent roof panel,the end flaps of the adjacent roof panel being folded under the saidinner roof panel, one of said end walls having an opening, and a perchof bendable material having its ends bent upwardly and inwardly anddisposed between the roof panels and the inturned end flaps thereof.

2. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank of water resisting fibrousmaterial scored to provide a bottom, side and end walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, adjacent end edges of the side and end wallsbeing connected by corner flaps folded against the inner sides of theside walls with end walls disposed between the side Walls and in spacedrelation to the ends thereof, the top edges of the end Walls beingupwardly tapered and having out-turned roof anchoring flaps extendingtherefrom, a roof member extending from the upper edge of one side walland longitudinally scored to provide a pair of roof panels folded uponthe top edges of the end walls and projecting substantially beyond thesame to provide a cornice and having end flaps folded inwardly iuiderthe said roof anchoring flaps on said end walls, the outer side wallhaving a, -joint panel projecting from its upper edge disposed below theadjacent roof panel, the end flaps of the adjacent roof panel beingfolded under the said joint panel, one of said end walls having anopening, and a perch of bendable material having its ends bent upwardlyand inwardly and disposed between the roof panels and the inturned endflaps thereof.

3. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank of water resisting fibrousmaterial scored to provide a bottom, downwardly tapered side and endwalls hingedly connected to the bottom, the opposed walls being disposedin upwardly diverging relation to each other, adjacent end edges of theside and end walls being connected by corner flaps folded against theinner sides of the side walls with end walls disposed between the sidewalls and in spaced relation to the ends thereof, one of said end wallsdefining an opening the top edges of the end walls being upwardlytapered and having out-turned roof anchoring flaps extending therefrom,and an outer roof member extending from the upper edge of one side walland longitudinally scored to provide a pair of roof panels folded uponthe top edges of the end walls and projecting substantially beyond thesame to provide a cornice and having end flaps folded inwardly under thesaid roof anchoring flaps on said end walls, the other side wall havingan inner roof panel projecting from its upper edge disposed below theadjacent roof panel, the end flaps of the adjacent roof panel beingfolded under the said inner roof panel.

4. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank of water resisting fibrousmaterial scored to provide a bottom, side and end walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, adjacent end edges of the side and end wallsbeing connected by corner flaps folded against the inner sides of theside walls with end walls disposed between the side walls and in spacedrelation to the ends thereof, one of said walls defining an opening thetop edges of the end walls being upwardly tapered and having outturnedroof anchoring flaps extending therefrom, and a roof member extendingfrom the upper edge of one side wall and longitudinally scored toprovide a pair of roof panels folded upon the top edges of the end wallsand projecting substantially beyond the same to provide a cornice andhaving end flaps folded inwardly under the said roof anchoring flaps onsaid end walls, the other side wall having a joint panel projecting fromits upper edge disposed below the adjacent roof panel, the end fiaps ofthe adjacent roof panel being folded under the said joint panel.

5. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank and comprising a bottom,downwardly tapered side and end walls, the opposed walls being disposedin upwardly diverging relation to each other, adjacent end edges of theside and end walls being connected by corner flaps folded against theinner sides of the side walls with end walls dis posed between the sidewalls and in spaced relation to the ends thereof, the top edges of theend walls being upwardly tapered and having outturned roof anchoringflaps extending therefrom, a roof member extending from the upper edgeof one side wall disposed upon the end walls and having end flaps foldedinwardly under the said roof anchoring flaps on said end walls, theother side wall having a joint extension projecting from its upper edgedisposed below the roof, the end fiaps of the roof member being foldedunder the said joint extension, one of said end walls having an opening,and a perch of bendable material having its ends bent upwardly andinwardly and disposed between the roof panels and the inturned end flapsthereof.

6. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank and comprising a bottom, sideand end walls, adjacent end edges of the side and end walls beingconnected by corner flaps, the top edges of the end walls being upwardlytapered and having out-turned roof anchoring fiaps extending therefrom,a roof member extending from the upper edge of one side wall disposedupon the end walls and having end flaps folded inwardly under the ,saidroof anchoring flaps on said end walls, the

end flaps of the roof member being folded under the said jointextension, one of said end Walls having an opening, and a perch ofbendable ma terial having its ends bent upwardly and inwardly anddisposed between the roof panels and the inturned end flaps thereof.

7, A birdhouse formed of an integral blank and comprising downwardlytapered side and end walls, the opposed walls being disposed in upwardlydiverging relation to each other, adjacent end edges of the side and endwalls being connected by corner flaps folded against the inner sides ofthe side walls with end walls disposed between the side walls and inspaced relation to the ends thereof, the top edges of the end wallsbeing upwardly tapered and having out-turned roof anchoring flapsextending therefrom, and a roof member extending from the upper edge ofone side wall disposed upon the end walls and having end flaps foldedinwardly under the said roof anchoring flaps on said end walls, theother side wall having a joint extension projecting from its upper edgedisposed below the roof, the end flaps of the roof member being foldedunder the said joint extension.

8. A birdhouse formed of an integral blank and comprising a bottom, sideand end walls, adjacent end edges of the side and end walls beingconnected by corner flaps, the top edges of the end walls being upwardlytapered and having out-turned roof anchoring flaps extending therefrom,and a roof member extending from the upper edge of one side walldisposed upon th end walls and having end flaps folded inwardly underthe said roof anchoring flaps on said end walls.

9. A blank of foldable weather resisting sheet material adapted to befolded to form a bird house, said blank being scored to provide a bottompanel, outwardly widening side and end panels, corner flaps connectingthe end edges of said side and end panels, said end panels having peakedouter ends with roof anchoring flaps extending from the edges thereof, aroof panel connected to the outer edge of one of said side panels andhaving end flaps on each end thereof, and an inner roof panel along theouter edge of said other side wall panel, one of said end wall panelsdefining an opening.

10. A blank of foldable weather resisting sheet material adapted to befolded to form a bird house, said blank being scored to provide a bottompanel, outwardly widening side and end panels, corner flaps connectingthe end edges of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,190,721 Mallgraf Feb. 20, 19402,230,305 Mallgraf Feb. 4, 1941 2,345,646 Williamson Apr. 4, 1944

